Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545285
MORE than 50 police reports were filed by individuals who suffered damage to their proper- ty and livestock following the Sa- lini fireworks factory explosion, MaltaToday has learnt. The reports concern damage to private residences, farms and fa- cilities impacted by the massive explosion that shook the area on Monday 1 June. Sources close to the investiga- tion told MaltaToday the reports covered a large area around the blast site, with residences on the Qawra coastline also being af- fected. Meanwhile, the police forensic unit led by Inspector Charlo Ca- sha and explosives experts from the army led by Col Patrick Vella are assisting the inquiry led by Magistrate Joe Mifsud. Sources said experts were us- ing drones to map out the area where the Lourdes Fireworks Factory once stood and compar- ing this to satellite imagery avail- able to the Planning Authority. Drones are also being used as a safety measure to monitor the area while explosives experts head into the fields. CCTV foot- age from several locations was collected and is being analysed, while stakeholders are being spoken to. Sources said the inquiry is leav- ing "no stone unturned" in a bid to establish the cause of the ex- plosion and whether there were any irregularities on site. Prime Minister Robert Abela has pledged to publish the mag- isterial inquiry once the investi- gation concludes and if the mag- istrate allows it. CONTINUES PAGE 2 YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY 7 JUNE 2026 • ISSUE 1388 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY MP curiosities Female success Rebel with a cause Conrad Borg Manche is now a PN MP on a mission SEE ALSO PAGE 3 €2.20 maltatoday INTERVIEW MT2 10 women made it on their own steam. Can this success be attributed to the gender mechanism? Borg Manche will table family court reform bill PAGE 8 The The district district champions, the champions, the newcomers, the newcomers, the comeback kid and comeback kid and more more CONRAD Borg Manche says one of the first things he will do as MP is tabling a private mem- ber's bill to reform the family court system. Elected on a Nationalist Party ticket, he argues the reform put forward by the government in the last legislature did not go far enough to address "systemic fail- ings". Earlier this year, parliament ap- proved a package of reforms tar- geting the family court, following a public consultation process held two years ago. The reform was intended to improve proceedings and strengthen protections for children and parents. However, Borg Manche insists the changes fall short of what is needed. KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt Fireworks blast led to scores of damage reports being filed Experts from the Police Forensic Unit, the army and civil protection on the site of the Salini Experts from the Police Forensic Unit, the army and civil protection on the site of the Salini fireworks explosion, analysing a map of the area as part of the ongoing magisterial inquiry fireworks explosion, analysing a map of the area as part of the ongoing magisterial inquiry PAGES 6-7